In a recent move that bucks years of preparations and agreements, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has pushed back against an order from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that mandates the continued operation of an aging coal-powered electric plant. According to a press release from Nessel’s office, the DOE's decision to halt the scheduled retirement of the J.H. Campbell plant is not only unfounded but could also lead to heavy financial burdens for Consumers Energy ratepayers.
Nessel's challenge includes filing a Request for Rehearing, contesting the DOE's use of what she calls a "fabricated energy emergency" to justify its intervention. "Michigan must be in the fight to maintain self-determination in where our power comes from," Nessel said, per the Michigan Department of Attorney General's Office. Her concerns extend to the potential cost implications for Consumers Energy's customers, who were all set to transition smoothly to alternative energy sources following the plant’s planned closure. The DOE order, dated May 23, appears to dismiss extensive state and federal regulatory approvals that backed the shutdown of the facility originally slated for retirement.
Operating since the 1960s, the Campbell Plant's retirement had been strategically planned. Consumers Energy's integrated resource plan from June 30, 2021, first pitched the idea, later securing a settlement approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission in June 2022. This planned shutdown, as Nessel's office clarifies, was not only backed by meticulous analysis but also promised significant savings for Michigan residents, tallying nearly $600 million.
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